Slugs

Mrs. K grows Lady’s Slipper Orchids in the garden. They are very successful and some of you will remember blips of them in flower.

But the biggest problem with growing them is slugs.
And the problem is at its worst in the month of March.  It is then that the orchids push through the tiny green “noses” and it is the damage which slugs do which can be a real setback.

The answer is copper rings. Small rings, sawn from copper pipes, go round each nose. And larger rings, bought from a specialist company, and seen here, go round the whole plant as double protection.

When slugs hoping for a meal touch the copper they get a small electric shock and this is enough to make them turn tale and head off to less expensive plants.

However, the rings only work if they are very clean. So each year at this time they have to go through a thorough cleaning cycle.
Here you can see what is the most effective way to clean them. Of course other similar drinks may work also.
Members of the Royal Society for the protection of Slugs will be pleased to know that no slugs are killed in this process.